Housing Advice in Prisons Service

Background

Housing Rights Service believes that everyone has a right to a decent, safe and affordable home. Within the field of criminal justice there is growing recognition of the need, in the interest of public protection, to promote the rehabilitation of prisoners and reduce the likelihood of re-offending.
 
In recent years there has been a number of key policy documents which highlight the close relationship between prisoners re-offending and homelessness.  Government statistics support this; with a significant number of those leaving prison without appropriate accommodation to live in, going on to re-offend. 

Aim

The Housing Advice in Prisons Service is a new, and developing, initiative managed and delivered by Housing Rights Service in partnership with Northern Ireland Housing Executive, Northern Ireland Prison Service, Probation Board Northern Ireland and NIACRO.  The project provides a specialist housing advice and information service within the 3 Northern Ireland prisons.  The principal aim of this service is to prevent homelessness amongst those leaving prison

Development of the Service

Phase 1

The service started in June 2006 when the Housing Executive approved funding for a Housing Advice Development Worker. This enabled us to provide the service 1 day a week in each of the 3 NI prisons.

The objective for the first phase of the service was to provide advice and advocacy that helped prisoners:

• Maintain accommodation they had before entering prison
• Access suitable accommodation prior to release

The service also provided advice on issues associated with affordability and debt and assisted clients to challenge adverse decisions where appropriate. 

In addition to advice, we also provide specialist training and support services for key staff across the prisons. As a result a number of staff have received an accredited housing advice qualification and are able to provide prisoners/inmates with basic housing advice. 

Evidence gathered as part of phase 1 of the service has brought positive improvements in housing policy, practice and provision for those entering and leaving prison. However, due to demand one third of those who needed to get advice were unable to do so.

Phase 2

Phase 2 of the project began in October 2007.  A key piece of work in this phase was the development of prisoner led housing information and advice scheme (peer advisers).  With joint funding made available by the Prison Service and Housing Executive a second Housing Advice Development Worker was employed.  This worker, based in HMP Maghaberry, has overseen the recruitment, selection and training of peer advisers.  The pilot of the scheme started in September 2008, dependent on its outcomes and the availability of funding, it may be expanded to the other two prisons. 

Current Objectives

In agreement with our partners the services current objectives are:

• Provision of direct advice services to members of the prison population with complex housing problems
• To support existing staff within each of the prisons  to deliver an enhanced level of advice through the provision of specialist training and support services
• To agree and implement a model of training and support to enable the delivery of prisoner led housing advice and information services
• Promote improvements in policies, practices and provision to enhance housing opportunities for those entering and leaving prison.

Looking to the future

Housing Rights Service is currently at an advanced stage in agreeing a formal Protocol with our partners.  This seeks to provide a framework for ongoing cooperation and ensure the accommodation and associated support needs of those entering and leaving custody (including those on remand) in Northern Ireland are met.

What people are saying about the service

 “I've done every course I can to help me keep away from the life that landed me in here but if you've no proper accommodation when you get out you'll drift back to that old life because it's safe and what you know. The adviser is pulling out all the stops to help me find the right place …..he understands how important this is for me".  (Inmate)

“My training has given me a useful insight into housing of ex offenders actually works and the benefits for prisoners” (Prison Staff)

“Without the prison adviser’s help I’d have been evicted and left with nowhere to go when I get out.” (Prisoner)

“Being new to the training I learnt a lot about the Housing Executive and their work with prisoners” (Prison Staff)

"Because the adviser is independent ….not connected with the prison ….. you feel more confident about admitting you've problems ….. you know he'll sort it and not tell everybody your business " (Prisoner)

“The adviser was really easy to talk to …  you felt he knew what he was doing and really wanted to help very professional” (Prisoner)

“I feel I can give advice now” (Prison Staff)

For further information on our work please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it